Friday, March 27, 2015 Follow us on Twitter @Argus_The Guide In The Spotlight


WHEN it comes to musical in- fluences, there is no doubt in my mind that it is the music of one’s youth, more than any other, that leaves the biggest mark. I remember Welsh hymns,


my father’s stentorian bass singing Verdi and Schubert as I stumbledmyway through the accompaniments, the pop music of the time, scratchy records that introduced me to the recordings of the Classics that have remained with me ever since. The other sound that most impacted on my psyche was that of the local brass band in which I struggled to play third cornet and probably made lit- tle contribution. But I loved it and continue to do so. Even nowadays,long after


mylast practical involvement, I still keep abreast of develop- ments in the field – usually


via the excellent local website 4barsrest It is a bit like following the football results at times, es- pecially at this time of year when the respective bands compete and hope to qualify for the National finals which are held annually at the Royal Albert Hall in October. Contesting is at the heart


of the genre and it has its own pyramid system (much like football,) as bands vie to move up through the sections – fourth to third to second and so forth up to the ‘big boys’ in the championship section, who compete to be at the tip of that pyramid, and then on to the European Championships. As I have often reported,


Wales currently heads the world with Philip Harper’s Cory Band, and Ian Port- house’s Tredegar Band not far behind as world number 3.


There was much local suc-


cess at the Wales Regionals at the Brangwyn Hall on Sat- urday, with Gareth Ritter’s Ebbw Valley Brass – winners of the second section -– going from strength to strength. Ab- ertillery Youth and District and Usk bands will also be cel- ebrating, after their qualifica- tion in the fourth section. Many from outside the band


world will probably look at all this with a slightly puzzled expression. When did music become a competitive sport? Does all this ‘sound and fury’ signify anything? Among all these test pieces (created specifically for put- ting bands through their paces ) is there anything of any last- ing musical worth? Great composers such as Holst and Vaughan Williams were drawn to the medium and Elgar’s Severn Suite is


By


GERAINT DAVIES


Competing keeps brass players up to their best


still regularly performed. However, much brass band repertoire has not stood the test of time. Interestingly, most choirs


have tended to move away from competing. I suppose this is understandable, as there is often more to be lost than gained from the experi- ence – weeks or months can be spent preparing for an event that brings euphoria for few and big anti-climax for the majority. Personally, I feel that it is a


pity as it has led to a drop in standards for many, as rigour and attention to detail become less critical. Complacency can all too easily set in. The brass band fraternity will argue that it is the striving for excellence that ensures the maintenance of high standards and, at the top end, produces some world- class music-making.


Cerys returns to ballet show


CRITICS Circle Award win- ning company, Ballet Cymru will present an extraordinary double bill of new work at the Sherman Theatre on May 14, featuring live performances from Cerys Matthews and Catrin Finch. Following the sell out suc-


cess of Ballet Cymru’s team up last year with Cerys Mat- thews’, the company reprise the iconic work TIR for one night only. Cerys’ iconic album of


Welsh Folk Music is the inspi- ration for TIR and choreogra- phers Darius James and Amy Doughty have used 11 of the songs from the album to cre- ate a unique work especially for the dancers of Ballet Cym- ru. Cerys herself will play the music live on stage with the company. Ballet Cymru will follow TIR


by teaming up with harpist and composer Catrin Finch and orchestra Sinfonia Cymru to produce a new work based on Catrin’s first composition, Celtic Concerto. Featured on the No 1 selling album, Blessing, Celtic Con- certo is a once only opportu- nity to see Ballet Cymru dance with Catrin Finch and 10mem-


9 Culture


BALLET: TIR


bers of Sinfonia Cymru live on stage. Tickets are available from shermancymru.co.uk


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